TRUST
Latest ports
Latest Waypoints
Latest news
Six more ships made u-turns after previous Houthi attacks
Further to the vessels suspected which reversed course on July 21 to avoid potential Houthi hostile action, more ships have been identified doing so on July 22: - the vehicles carrier 'Liu Jiang Kou' (IMO: 9991795), which was now sailing eastwards on the Maritime Transit Security Corridor (MTSC) while exiting the Gulf of Aden. - the 'Trust', sanctioned by the EU, UK and US (OFAC), which dropped anchor off Jeddah. - the Singapore-flagged products tanker 'Navig8 Express' (IMO: 9976874), which appeared to have reversed course and was heading back to Yanbu. - the Liberia-flagged tanker 'Mica' (IMO: 9399935), which was on its way from Port Suez to Sohar, but now appeared to have stopped off Jizan. - the Maltese-flagged Suezmax 'Agios Gerasimos' (IMO: 9693056), which was now heading for the head of the Sumed Pipeline at Ain Sukhna. - the Liberia-flagged Suezmax 'Amazon' (IMO: 9476654), which was heading northwards for the Suez Canal.
Sanctioned tanker carried out semi-dark STS operation
On March 8, 2026, the Russian-flagged 'Trust', a vessel already blacklisted by the U.S., European Union and United Kingdom, carried out a high-probability covert crude transfer in Omani territorial waters. Based on an estimated price of about $90 per barrel on March 10, the cargo involved in the transfer was valued at roughly $29.3 million. The timing of the operation coincided with heightened military escalation in the Gulf following Operation Epic Fury, suggesting that the vessel exploited regional instability to conduct the transfer under reduced scrutiny. The tanker had previously loaded approximately 325,000 barrels of Russian crude oil at the Russian port of Ust-Luga. The operation was described as a semi-dark activity, meaning one of the vessels transmitted its AIS signal, while the other did not. The 'Trust' had anchored and switched off its AIS transponder while holding what it called a "prolonged stationary meeting" with another tanker, likely producing an anonymous vessel to transfer cargo process.
Ship added to EU sanction list
The European Union has adopted its newest sanctions package on Dec 16, 2024, at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, adding 52 new vessels, among them the 'Trust', to the sanctions list that have been deemed by the EU to be supporting Russia’s war machine. The vessels that have been sanctioned are primarily involved in circumventing the oil price cap mechanism implemented by the West, in arms deliveries, and in the transportation of stolen grain. This latest package has brought the total number of vessels sanctioned by the EU to 79. The majority of the vessels are involved in the transport of Russian oil and in transporting arms for the Russian military. The sanctions package also targets a total of 54 individuals and 30 entities that are deemed to be bolstering Russia’s war effort. Among them, there are also entities and individuals in China and North Korea who have been deemed to be supplying Russia with dual-use materials to support Russia’s military efforts. Two senior North Korean officials and seven Chinese individuals and companies have been targeted in the latest sanctions. The purpose of the sanctions has been defined to increase the operational costs for Russia by banning them from ports in the EU and hindering them from receiving maritime services.
Upload News